Tribune Staff Writer

The Seeley Lake Pond Hockey tournament last weekend attracted 48 teams who played on four rinks on the frozen lake. / TRIBUNE PHOTO/ERIN MADISON

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SEELEY LAKE — Driving back and forth between their homes in Seeley Lake and their hockey games in Missoula, Mike Lindemer and Tom Monaghan concocted a plan to host a hockey tournament on the frozen ice of Seeley Lake.

Now in its fourth year, the Seeley Lake Pond Hockey tournament attracted 48 teams who played on four rinks set up on the frozen lake behind Lindey’s Prime Steak House last weekend.

Jeff Cincoski of Missoula played in the tournament for the first time this year. Last year he came and cheered on his wife’s team, but this year he wanted to be part of the fun. And even in the pouring rain on Saturday he was having a great time.

“It really equalizes things between the better players and the more novice ones,” Cincoski said of the less-than-perfect conditions.

The games are played three-on-three on smaller-than-normal 75-by-150-foot rinks.

“There’s no goalie involved,” Lindemer explained.

The nets are small and low to the ground, and there are no boards surrounding the rinks. Games are played as two 15-minute halves. Pucks aren’t allowed to be lifted above players’ knees.